Patented process gives MegaNatural™ Gold Grape Seed Extract greater bioavailability and solubility.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued Patent No.6,544,581 to Canandaigua Wine Company, in connection with its Polyphenolics business, for its unique manufacturing extraction process. The process gives the company’s MegaNatural™ Gold Grape Seed Extract a much lower average molecular weight than any other grape seed extract on the market, increasing its heart-healthy benefits.

The lower molecular weight makes MegaNatural™ easier for the body to absorb, improving its bioactivity and its ability to prevent LDL oxidation. It also makes MegaNatural™ Gold extremely water soluble, an ideal quality for the beverage industry.

“We are extremely pleased with this innovation,” explained Anil Shrikhande, Ph.D., President of Polyphenolics, “since this process allows us to use an aqueous extraction of procyanidins from grape materials without the use of organic solvents used by other processors.”

“We are very excited about this new patented process,” said Ron Martin, Vice President of Sales. “This puts us in the unique position of being able to provide our customers with a consistent, high quality product that yields better cardiovascular protection per gram than other similar products on the market.”

The patented process isolates and concentrates the bioactive phenolic and flavonoid substances in the rubired and white varietal grape seeds used in the process. This powdered extract contains phenols at a concentration several times that found in commercial concord grape juice.

Polyphenolics, a division of Canandaigua Wine Company, manufactures, markets and sells ingredients for the pharmaceutical, nutritional and beverage industries. For more information call (219) 243-9825 or visit www.polyphenolics.com

For many years I’ve extolled the virtues of grape seed extract as a powerful antioxidant in the category of plant substances known as polyphenols and flavonols. Rodent studies a few years ago showed that when grape seed comprised a large percentage of animals’ diets, blood pressures came down. But it would be impractical, nutritionally illogical to consume that much grape seed on a daily basis. So the research chemists went to work to determine the particular part of grape seed that had the desired effect.

Working at Polyphenolics, a division of Constellation Wines in California, chemists isolated that component and concentrated the isolate into a special formulation of grape seed extract the company calls MegaNatural-BP.   Next came successful animal studies. But they didn’t stop there. Instead, the company supported two human clinical trials at the University of California, Davis, with leading cardiologist C. Tissa Kappagoda, M.D.

The first trial included 24 men and women diagnosed with “metabolic syndrome,” a condition that combines insulin resistance, elevated triglycerides and lowered levels of the protective HDL cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Average improvements were 12 points systolic (top number) BP and 8 points diastolic (bottom number).

In a second investigation, Dr. Kappagoda and his colleagues worked with 30 participants with average blood pressures of 134.1/79.1. Half got 300 mg of MegaNatural-BP and half got a sugar-pill placebo. While placebo recipients exhibited no changes at all, those getting MegaNatural-BP achieved reductions of 8 points systolic and 6 points diastolic.

A number of companies sell MegaNatural-BP grape seed extract either alone or in combination with other ingredients. For a listing of companies whose products are sold in health food stores or online, go to www.polyphenolics.com. You’ll find one of the most reasonably priced products, a pure MegaNatural-BP with no additional ingredients, comes from www.healthyorigins.com. Also visit www.swansonvitamins.com to check out their well-priced offerings.

Read the whole shopping list from Bob Kowalski at theHealthyHeart.net.

Take 150 mg. to 300 mg a day of grape seed extract for one month dropped women’s systolic pressure (the top number) by about 12 points and thier diastolic pressure (the bottom number) by 8 in one study. 

The article failed to mention that the above study didn’t use just any grape seed extract they used the patented MegaNatural-BP grape seed extract. 

See the study

There’s exciting news about how a powerful antioxidant – grape seed extract – may help the millions of overweight Americans at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. Researchers at UC Davis are already recruiting for the next obesity-related studies including one using MegaNatural BP® grape seed extract.

The new study comes on the heels of a study published in July 2009 that indicated that the use of MegaNatural BP® grape seed extract, in conjunction with lifestyle modification, may effectively lower blood pressure in patients with metabolic syndrome. That protocol from that study, led by C. Tissa Kappagoda M.D., professor of cardiovascular medicine at UC Davis Health System, was so effective that it has since been patented.

The new double blind, placebo controlled studies will also be conducted under the direction of Dr. Kappagoda. The first will measure the inflammatory markers in people who are overweight or diagnosed with metabolic syndrome throughout a full day’s worth of high fat meals. The second will look directly at whether grape seed extract suppresses those inflammatory markers. MegaNatural BP® will be used in that study. Inflammatory markers are associated with insulin resistance, a condition which can develop into Type 2 Diabetes.

“If we can suppress the inflammatory response in a single meal with grape seed extract, then we might be able to give grape seed extract continually to suppress the impact on insulin resistance from frequent high fat meals,” explains Dr. Kappagoda. “This could lead to an opportunity for a larger clinical trial to see if we can at least delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes. It might allow us to buy time to institute other remedial measures with people diagnosed with metabolic syndrome.”

“We are excited that MegaNatural BP is proving to be such an important product in the fight against the devastating effects of metabolic syndrome,” says Dr. Anil Shrikhande, President of Polyphenolics.

Polyphenolics is demonstrating its commitment to educating members of the health and nutrition industry about the significance of antioxidants with its sponsorship of the Antioxidant Science track during Nutracon 2010, taking place March 10-11 in Anaheim. Polyphenolics also will exhibit at SupplyExpo 2010, March 12-14 at the Anaheim Convention Center. They will be in Booth #818.

“There is a grape seed extract that concentrates the isolates that’s been found to lower blood pressure,” Kowalski said. “By doing this you will see another, in one study an eight point drop and another study a 12 point drop, in blood pressure.” Kowalski is referring to the two clinical tests conducted by cardiovascular researchers at the University of California Davis that studied the effects of MegaNatural-BP. No other grape seed extract has been proven to have the same results.

Kowalski received his Master of Science degree in physiology and journalism from Iowa State University and authored six books, including The Blood Pressure Cure: 8 Weeks to Lower Blood Pressure Without Prescription Drugs.

GNC’s line of grape seed extract aren’t the only suppliments that are clinically proven to help battle hypertension. You can find the same formula on a number of products with the MegaNatural-BP logo.

Dr. Stoler is the host of Honey, We’re Killing the Kids on The Learning Channel and the Food Network (Canada). She received her Master of Science degree in physiology and nutrition from Columbia University, and her Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition (D.C.N.) from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

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Effect of Grape Seed Extract on Blood Pressure in Subjects with the Metabolic Syndrome (PDF)